Circuit-interrupter



P. V. McCASH.

CIRCUIT EHTERRUPTER. APPLICATION man JUNE 1 5, 1-919.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

| I l I P. V. McCASii.

CIRCUIT INTERRUFTEBB APPLICATION FILED JUNE "m9.

1,365,042., Patented Jam 11, 19210 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

dummy.

- ennui) STATES V. McCASI-I, F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON. ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TQ IN'TEIENATIONAL FINANCE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF WASHINGTON.

PATENT OFFICE.

CIRCUIT-INTERRUPTER.

V esa-e42.

Application filed June 16, 1919.

- rent. may be intermittently supplied to the point of use, as, for example, an electrical sign.

The main object of the invention is the provision of an interrupter in which the circuit is broken without appreciable arcing, to thereby minimize the danger of fire.

A further object is the provision of means whereby the movable control element of the operating circuit is retarded in its movement under the pull of an energized magnet, to prevent hammering and consequent wear.

In the drawings Figure lie 5:- view in elevation of the improved interrupter.

Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a broken vertical section through the lower portion of the interrupter.

Fig. 4C is a section on line 4-4, Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a circuit diagram.

In the drawings, the improved interrupter comprises a coil 1, having a core 2, and supported between insulated heads 3 and l, secured to ether by the usual binding or tie rods 5. ne of these heads may, if desired, carry a supporting means, not shown, whereby the interrupter as a whole may be supported from any convenient fixture.

The working circuit, as for example, that energizing the sign, A, has a make and break element mounted upon the upper' head 3,

which element comprises an upright 6, on'

which is pivotally mounted a switch lever 7, having a contact face- 8 as part of a metallic block 9 at one end, and an over-balancing weight lOat the opposite end. The other portion of the working circuit make and break element comprises a strip 11 rising from the head 3, bent laterally at the upper end, and carrying a contact block 12 with a face 13 in position to be engaged by the face 8 of the switch lever, when the latter is free to move under the influence of the weight 10.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

Serial No. 304,469.

.T he lever block 9 of the lever is in position to be attracted bv the core of the co1lor electromagnet-when the latter is energized, to thus break the circuit through the contact faces 8 and 13.

Belowthe lower head 1 of the electro' magnet, is supported by an insulated block 1% secured to such head, a metallic disk 15, herein termed a balancing disk, and supported by and insulated from disk 15 is dash-pot casing 16 having a vent 17 controlled by a needle-valve 18. i

A piston 19 operates in the casing 16, and has an upwardly projecting stem 20 carrying at its upper end a block of soft iron 21 forming an armature for the electromagnet.

Arranged within the casing 16 are spaced disks 22,23, preferably secured to the stem 20 in a manner to permit slight play of the edges of the disks vertically. For example the disks may be satisfactorily held to the stem by prick-punching the latter.

Secured to and depending from the disk 1.5 are cars 24, between which is pivotally supported a lever 25, the inner end of which extends within the casing 16, and between the disks 22, 23. The other end of the lever 25 is adapted for wiping electrical engagement with a strip 26 preferably secured to the electrcmagnet heads 3 and 4.

The circuit includes source of energyi27 from whichextends a conductor 28 leading to the coil 1, the other conductor 29 leading to the ears 24. The other end of the coil connects to the strip 26. A branch conductor 30 leads from conductor 28 to 'theupright 6, a second branch conductor 31 leading from conductor 29 to the sign A. The return from the sign is through a conductor leading to the strip 11.

Assuming the coil denergized, the block 21 is in its lowermost position and the switch lever 7 held by the weight to close the circuit to the sign. In this position however the lever 25 is in contact with the strip 26 and the electromagnet is also energized. The armature 21 rises under the attraction of the core of the electromagnet until the disk 23 engages the lever 25 and breaks its electrical contact with strip 26. During the energization of the electromagnet, however, the switch lever has been attracted, and

moved against the influence of its weight, to

gagement betweenlever 25 and strip 26 is broken the electromagnet is deenergized, the armature 21 is free and descends retarded by the dash-pot. As the electromagnet is deenergized, the weighted switch lever 7, acts by gravity to restore the sign circuit. \Vhen the disk 22 in the dash-pot casing, engages and operates the lever 25 to move the latter into contact with the strip 26, the circuit to the electromagnet is restored and the operation is repeated.

It is to be noted that the balancing disk 15 is within the'lines of magnetic force from the electromagnet, and lfnce these lines of force act upon the armature 21 with an effect to centralize said armature relative to the disk. If the armature which is .shown as a circular block was, when in inoperative position equally spaced on opposite sides of the balancing disk, the effect of the latter would be i to hold the armature against movement. However it will be noted that in such inoperative position the greater mass of the armature is above the disk, the proportion being such that the armature is permitted to move under the pull of the magnet but retarded or balanced by the disk, to prevent hammering.

The breaking of the sign circuit is also within the magnetic lines of force from the electromagnet with the well known effect of dampening the arc. v

lVhat is claimed as new is 1. A circuit interrupter having an electromagnet, a current make and break device controlled by the electromagnet, a circuit for energizing said electromagnet, a switch lever operated by the electromagnet for controlling the circuit, an armature for the electromagnet adapted to actuate said switch lever, and a balancing means for said armature.

2. A circuit interrupter comprising an electromagnet, a make and break device controlled thereby, an armature for the electromagnet, a circuit for the electromagnet, a circuit for the electromagnet including a lever controlled by said armature, and a metallic disk within the influence of the electromagnet and encircling the armature.

3. A circuit interrupter comprising an electromagnet, a make and break device controlled thereby, an armature for the electromagnet, a circuit for the electromagnet, a circuit for the electromagnet including a lever controlled by said armature, and a metallic disk within the influence of the electromagnet and encircling the armature, the greater mass of the armature being beyond the disk and toward. the electromagnet.

4. A circuit interrupter comprising an electromagnet, a make and break device controlled thereby, an armature, for the electromagnet, a circuit for the electromagnet, a circuit for the electromagnet including a lever controlled by said armature, and a metallic disk within the influence of the electromagnet andencircling the armature, and a dash-pot controlling movement of the armature in one direction. 4

5. A circuit interrupter including a coil, a circuit therefor including a lever, an armature for the coil, a dash-pot for retarding opening movement of the armature, and disks movable by the armature and arranged within the dash pot, said disks engaging and operating said lever at limits of movement of the armature.

6. A circuit interrupter including a coil, a circuit therefor including a lever, an armature for the coil, a dash-pot for retarding opening movement of the armature, and disks movable by the armature and arranged within the dash-pot, said disks en-- gaging and operating said lever at limits of movement of the armature, and a make and break device including a. counter weight switch. lever operated against the influence of the weight by the energized coil.

7. A circuit interrupter including a coil, a circuit therefor including a lever, an armature for the coil, and dash-pot for retarding opening movement of the armature, and disks movable by the armature and engaging and operating said lever at limits of movement of the armature, and a disk encircling the armature and magnetically influencing the same.

8. A circuit interrupter including a coil, a circuit therefor including a lever, an armature for the coil, a dash pot for retarding opening movement of the armature, and disks movable by the armature and engaging and operating said lever at limits of movement of the armature, and disks movable by the armature and engaging and operating said lever at limits of movement of the armature, said armature comprising a cylindrical mass of soft iron, and a metallic disk encircling the same and within the magnetic influence of the coil.

9. A circuit interrupter including a coil, a circuit therefor including a lever, an ar mature for the coil, a dash-pot for retarding opening movement of the armature, and disks movable by the armature and engaging and operating said lever at limits of movement of the armature, the greater portion of thearmature mass being between the disk and coil when the armature is in non-attracted position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

PERRY v. MOGASH, 

